We head down Looziana way for installment number eight of wild blind dart-throwing predictions of Alabama opponents.
GAME 9, November 8: LSU TIGERS
Coach: Brian Kelly (29-11, SEC 17-7 three season at LSU)
2024 record: 9-4 (5-3 in SEC, 9th place, won Texas Bowl over Baylor)
CB 2024 Regular Season Prediction: 9-3, got the numbers right, but different wins-losses.
Looking back: LSU kicked off the season with a ridiculous loss to Southern Cal in Las Vegas. After a cupcake game, the Tigers won a controversial game at South Carolina that
turned into a six game win streak (UCLA, So. Alabama, Ole Miss, @Arky). But then everything went to crap as the Bayou Bengals lost @ TAMU, home vs Bama, and @ Florida – all by double digits. LSU won out the season with home games against Vandy and Oklahoma, followed by a Texas Bowl victory over Baylor.
Returning starters: 4 on offense (1 OL), 4 on defense, kicker
Key losses: OT Will Campbell (Round 1, Patriots), TE Mason Taylor (Round 2, Jets), EDGE Sai’vion Jones (Round 3, Broncos), EDGE Bradyn Swinson (Round 5, Patriots), OT Emery Jones Jr. (Round 3, Ravens), G Miles Frazier (Round 5, Lions), G Garrett Dellinger (Round 7, Ravens), CB Zy Alexander (grad), RB Josh Williams (grad), S Major Burns (grad), S Sage Ryan (xfer to Ole Miss), LB Greg Penn (grad)
Top returnees: QB Garrett Nussmeier, leading tackler MLB Whit Weeks, leading rusher Caden Durham, (753 yds, 6 TD), leading receiver Aaron Anderson (61 rec, 884 yds, 5 TD), STAR Harold Perkins, SS Jardin Gilbert, G DJ Chester, CB Ashton Stamps, PK Damian Ramos
Top newcomers: WR Barion Brown (Kentucky), DE Jack Pyburn (Florida, 60 tackles), CB Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech, 4 INT, 2 FF, 7 PD), FS Tamarcus Cooley (Maryland>NC State, 3 INT, 6 PD), DT Bernard Gooden (Wake Forest>USF), C Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech), G Josh Thompson (Northwestern), DB DJ Pickett (FR), EDGE Patrick Payton (FSU), WR Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), RB Harlem Berry (FR)
Strengths: QB, leading rusher, and leading receiver all return… Strong secondary… Fla, SCar, and TAMU at home… tight end might be okay…
Weaknesses: Pass-heavy in 2024, the Tigers need a more balanced offense… Beyond Anderson, the wide receivers are a bit speculative (will seniors Chris Hilton and Barion Brown finally step up?)… Thin defensive line… Lost four starters from perhaps the best LSU offensive line of all time… The kicker is kinda meh and the punter came in from Middle Tennessee… Only 6 INTs last season and -3 turnover margin… Kelly led LSU teams have been wildly inconsistent…
Questionable: Whit Weeks broke an ankle in the Texas Bowl, but is expected to be ready for the opener at Clemson… DL Jacobian Guillory tore his Achilles tendon against by-god Nicholls State in the second game of the 2024 season… Harold Perkins experienced an injury-marred 2024 and smartly did not enter the 2024 NFL Draft…
Outlook: LSU did a remarkable job in the transfer portal, filling several holes on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see how well they mesh in such a short time. Many talking heads are yammering about Nussmeier being a Heisman contender. We at RBR agree he is a good quarterback, but he has some flaws. Both sides of the line are questionable. The Tigers feel like they have a shot at a playoff spot, but doubtful as a serious championship contender.
South Carolina Win Total Per FanDuel
Over 8.5 -162 (bet $162 to win $100)
Under 8.5 +132 (bet $100 to win $132)
2025 LSU SCHEDULE:
Sat, Aug 30 @ Clemson – L – LOL if when Kelly’s Tigers lose their 4th straight season opener.
Sat, Sep 6 vs Louisiana Tech – W
Sat, Sep 13 vs Florida – W – Home, but possible toss up.
Sat, Sep 20 vs SE Louisiana – W
Sat, Sep 27 @ Ole Miss – W – Rebs take a step back.
Sat, Oct 4 bye
Sat, Oct 11 vs South Carolina – W – Home, another close one.
Sat, Oct 18 @ Vanderbilt – W
Sat, Oct 25 vs Texas A&M – W – The Aggs don’t win games like this.
Sat, Nov 1 bye
Sat, Nov 8 @ Alabama – L – #pwned
Sat, Nov 15 vs Arkansas – W
Sat, Nov 22 vs Western Kentucky – W
Sat, Nov 29 @ Oklahoma – L
2025 ALABAMA SCHEDULE PREVIEWS:
Sat, Aug 30 @ Florida State
Sat, Sep 6 vs UL Monroe
at, Sep 13 vs Wisconsin
Sat, Sep 27 @ Georgia
Sat, Oct 4 vs Vanderbilt
Sat, Oct 11 @ Missouri
Sat, Oct 18 vs Tennessee
Sat, Oct 25 @ South Carolina
Sat, Nov 8 vs LSU
Sat, Nov 15 vs Oklahoma
Sat, Nov 22 vs Eastern Illinois
Sat, Nov 29 @ Auburn
